Procedures for Medicines in School

Procedures for medicine in school – January 2023

There is specific guidance from the Department for Children, Schools and Families on procedures for having medication in School, outlined below for your information. If bringing medication into School, please follow the procedure below:

  • There is no legal duty that requires the school to administer medicines. At all times we would prefer and welcome parents/guardians to come to school to administer such medicine themselves; currently safety precautions for COVID 19 must be followed. However, we understand this is not always possible; therefore, we will assist wherever we can if the correct procedure is followed.
  • Non-prescription medicine, lozenges or cream should not be sent into school whatever the circumstances. Staff are not permitted to administer non-prescribed medicine at any time.
  • If a pupil is well enough to be at school but requires prescribed medicine* during the school day (which cannot be administered by the parent), such medicine should be brought to the School Office in the original labelled container obtained from the Chemist.(Chemists will give out a spare correctly labelled container when dispensing medicine if requested).

*Please note we will only administer medicine (at lunchtime) that has been prescribed to be taken 4 times per day, a dosage to be taken 3 x per day should be administered at home.

  • Unidentified medicine cannot be accepted into school.
  • Parents will be asked to complete a Medicine Form held in the main school office and sign their consent that a member of staff may administer it.
  • We would also ask you to advise the class teacher so that they may remind the pupil to go to the office at the appropriate time.
  • The medicine container should be collected by an adult from the main school office at the end of the day.
  • If a pupil has a regular medical requirement which necessitates medicine being kept in school, this should be discussed with Nikki Upton, our Family Liaison Officer (FLO) who holds a Level 2 qualification for The Management of Medication in Educational or Childcare Settings. A protocol will be drawn up in consultation with the pupil’s parent/guardian. All staff concerned will be made aware and given appropriate training where necessary.

Medical Information for Parents

The following information has been extracted from the school’s Medication Policy to advise parents.  A copy of the full policy can be obtained from the school office or via our website www.herne-bay.kent.sch.uk.

Information regarding children’s medical needs will be sought on admission to school.  It is a parent’s responsibility to inform the school of any medical condition affecting their child.  The parents must let the school know if any medical treatment becomes necessary after admission, or if any changes are made to a child’s medication. Parents should inform the School Office, who will in turn inform the relevant members of staff.

Managing medicines on school premises and record keeping

At Herne Bay Infant School and Seashells Nursery the following procedures are to be followed:

o Medicines should only be administered at school when it would be detrimental to a child’s health or school attendance not to do so;

o No child under 16 should be given prescription or non-prescription medicines without their parents written consent (see Appendix 2 – Parental agreement for setting to administer Medicine) – except in exceptional circumstances where the medicine has been prescribed to the child without the knowledge of the parents;

o We will not administer non-prescription medicines eg Calpol, homeopathic;

o Where clinically possible, medicines should be prescribed in dose frequencies which enable them to be taken outside school hours: 3 x daily dose, all to be given at home; 4x daily dose, one dose only to be given at school;

o Medicines must be handed in to the office by 8.40am daily, or on arrival for a child attending breakfast club.

o Herne Bay Infant School and Seashells Nursery will only accept prescribed medicines, with written permission from parent/carer that are in-date, labelled, provided in the original container as dispensed by a pharmacist and include instructions for administration, dosage and storage. Staff will check the label on the medication to ensure it is prescribed to the named child, is in date & that the dosage/frequency is agreed. The exception to this is insulin which must be in-date, but will generally be available to schools inside an insulin pen or a pump, rather that its original container;

  • Long term medication: Where a child has a long-term medical condition (eg allergies, ADHD, epilepsy, or a condition that requires regular pain relief), supporting medical evidence must be provided before medicine is administered in school. Parent/carer will be required to administer medication until this is received

o When administering medicine to a child, office staff will check the SIMS photograph to ensure it is the right child and the details above & administration will be witnessed by another member of staff.

o All medicines will be stored safely in the School Office or staff fridge. Staff should know where the medicines are at all times and be able to access them immediately.

o Medicines and devices such as asthma inhalers, blood glucose testing meters and adrenaline pens should be always readily available in the Class Locker and not locked away. These should be marked with the child’s name.

o During school trips the Class Teacher will carry all medical devices and medicines required;

o We will keep all controlled drugs that have been prescribed for a pupil securely stored. Controlled drugs should be easily accessible in an emergency. A record should be kept of any doses used and the amount of the controlled drug held in the school;

o Staff administering medicines should do so in accordance with the prescriber’s instructions. Herne Bay Infant School & Seashells Nursery will keep a record (see Appendix 3 – Record of Medicine Administered to an Individual Child) of all medicines administered to individual children, stating what, how and how much was administered, when and by whom. Any side effects of the medication to be administered at school should be noted. Written records are kept of all medicines administered to children. These records offer protection to staff and children and provide evidence that agreed procedures have been followed;

o When no longer required, medicines should be returned to the parent/carer to arrange safe disposal. Sharps boxes should always be used for the disposal of needles and other sharps and should be returned to parent/carer for safe disposal.